Museum Security Concerns After Heist
The director of the Louvre Museum acknowledged today, Wednesday, that the surveillance cameras covering the museum’s external walls were inadequate. This admission comes just three days following a daylight theft in central Paris that has shocked both France and the international community.
On Sunday, thieves infiltrated the Louvre by using a crane to break a window on the upper floor, proceeding to steal several pieces of royal jewelry valued at approximately €88 million ($102 million) before escaping on motorcycles.
During a Senate committee hearing, Laurence de Car stated, “Despite our efforts and diligent work over the days, we were defeated.”
She added, “We were unable to detect the thieves’ arrival in time,” attributing this failure to a lack of sufficient outdoor surveillance cameras around the museum.
De Car highlighted that the external cameras do not provide complete coverage of the museum facade, mentioning that the window through which the thieves entered was not being monitored.
Furthermore, she reiterated her long-standing warnings regarding the dire state of security at the historic building, noting, “What I had warned about occurred last Sunday.”
In conclusion, she revealed that she offered her resignation to Culture Minister Rachida Dati, who declined it.